Sheil Kapadia

Philly.com

Ex-Eagles fullback Kevin Turner has been diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Turner, 41, spent five seasons with the Birds from 1995-1999.

"The first doctor said she thought I had 12-15 years," Turn­er told the Montgomery Advertiser in his home state of Alabama. "Then I saw another doc­tor that said five or six. The third doctor said you have two or three years. Heck, I'm going to stop going to see doctors. I may not make it out alive next time."

A study last week linked ALS to athlete head injuries. According to The Boston Globe, Turner is the 14th former NFL player to be diagnosed with ALS since 1960, a rate eight times higher than the rest of the adult male population.

Per The Globe, Turner became addicted to pain killers and battled with depression and fits of rage after his playing days were over. He said one of the most difficult issues he deals with is deciding whether or not to let his sons - ages 7 and 12 - play football.

"The father in me wants to say, 'Don’t play,' but it’s a hell of a game. It helps you with a 'keep going' attitude," Turner said.

He is now involved in research that links chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to ALS, agreeing to donate his brain and spinal cord when he dies.